To our "Papa"
When John Robert Vona was born on October 28, 1935, in North Tonawanda, his father, John, was 21 and his mother, Ruth, was 17. He married Joyce Rose Cinquino on August 31, 1957 and they had five children: John, David, Linda, Sandra and Daniel. He died on March 14, 2024, at the age of 88.
John completed school in 1961 at the University of Buffalo’s Dental School and immediately entered the US Army Reserve Dental division at Fort Riley, Kansas. After an honorable discharge, he set down roots in Silver Creek. He had a thriving dental practice for over 45 years and continued to work well into his mid-80s for the Resource Center in Dunkirk, where he retired after working 61 years.

John was also an athlete and musician. He played on UB’s basketball and baseball teams, for which he was recently inducted into the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame. He also was a 50-year member of Tri-County Country Club, and played with the New Horizon Band of WNY, performing in their seasonal concerts at Fredonia SUNY’s Mason Hall.